Minority Report (Why Women Don't Tell)

Minority Report
Why women are hesitant to report abuse?

by. William Walker Jr

October 19, 2018

Weeks ago the nation was wrapped up in the confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh. Then he was the supreme court nominee of Donald Trump. Like most decisions by this President not a choice without controversy. During his confirmation hearing Mr. Kavanaugh had been accused of sexual assault, by one of his former high school classmates. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, had come forward to accuse Judge Kavanaugh. The process descended into a partisan fight, with those of the Republican party leaping to the defense of Judge Kavanaugh, and the Democratic party doing everything to discredit him and support Dr. Ford. Credibility stood at the center of the matter, which person was more credible with their account. This post isn't actually about the confirmation process, but a question that arose from it. This is a question that pertains to women who've been victims of assault. That question was: "Why didn't you report the crime?"

Those that wanted to attack or discredit Dr. Ford's testimony were quick to state well why are you now coming forward? Why didn't you say anything before now? Those that asked those questions seemed to ignore the fact that Dr. Ford had come forward with her accusations against Judge Kavanaugh before he was even the pick for nominee. Also she named him back in 2012 when having couples therapy. But this isn't anything new to victims of sexual assault. Often times they face some form of interrogation and questions to the validity of their claim. I myself have been guilty of the mindset of why didn't the woman say something before, how can you not report when someone assaults you? Like most men it's hard to understand a woman's plight. I'm not alone, most people when putting themselves in another's shoes at times can't empathize. We often go "Well if that was me I would've done it this way" not truly understanding or being able to relate to the situation. It's this attitude that plays into a victim's hesitancy in report.g the crime. I had two conversations that helped my understanding of this matter.

First conversation took place with my wife when watching news coverage on the hearing. I voiced the common question why do women not report assaults? My wife sweetly responded "for the same reason you didn't bring up issues with your manager to HR". You see at my last job I had major issues with my manger. He wasn't professional, there were a ton of issues I had with his management style. Others had recommended I discuss the issue with Human Resources. My hesitancy was rooted in zero faith with the department. I've never felt that in corporate America that the HR department was ever an advocate for the employee much more so for the Company, that is a topic for another day. The point is eventually I did bring up the issues with the HR department and after having a conversation with the HR manager, who's best advice to my problems was to I'll paraphrase "get over it". At one point I was advised told to speak to a therapist in regard to how I should deal with the stress of the job and how to accept the situation. I came away from the experience like what was the point? The manager's conduct remained the same and if anything I felt like there was now a target on my back. This is a feeling that plenty of women understand all too well. This brings me to the second conversation I had, which was with my father. I was talking to him about the conversation I had with my wife and how it made more sense to me why women wouldn't report abuse. For decades women's accusations and reports would fall upon deaf ears. My Dad said that was mainly due to the society the attitude that persisted as he was growing up which was in the sixties and seventies. He could recall often times when women would be chased down the street naked in his neighborhood by their abusive spouses or boyfriends. With people in the neighborhood looking the other way. The culture turned a blind-eye to a woman's plight if one actually did report a crime they were put through the ringer, while the perpetrator would either get a slap on the wrist or face no punishment at all.

The Me Too movement has created a cultural shift within this country. For once women's voices are being heard and taken seriously. Yet even though there appears to be this shift the same issues they faced before are still prevalent. While women may feel better about reporting allegations of abuse they still face demonizing attacks or in-action. Dr. Ford has faced a bevy of attacks due to her report while being ridiculed by the most powerful man in the country. The fact that Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation was barely delayed screamed to the public "What was the point?". Other women witness this and they've been witnessing results like this throughout this country's history. I recall the disappointment I felt when my call to HR resulted in nothing happening, and the paranoia of feeling like at any moment I would feel retribution from my manager. Again this is a feeling that women know all too well and repeatedly they witness how victims are attacked in a multitude of ways and the assaulter typically doesn't face such wrath.

Sadly not enough empathize or relate their situation to these victims. When harassment and assault has been so prevalent for years with the results typically being the same, it almost makes you question why would woman come forward at all? It also makes more sense on why the Me Too movement has been so powerful. It's almost as if the dam of holding back justice for women has burst and a torrent is consuming all in its path. That is a good thing there can be some downside to this sudden rush but again a topic for another day. If you've ever voiced the question "why didn't she report it or say something sooner?". Look through the history of how women have been treated in this country. It's up to us to further shift the attitude and encourage and protect more women to where they can feel like something will be done, and they'll get an answer to their own constant question of "What's the point?".

A New Journey Begins

New Journey Begins

by. William Walker Jr.

September 27th, 2018

For the majority of my life I've always wanted to be a writer. To utilize my creativity in some form or fashion. Whether it be in Junior High and High School writing short stories, poems, and raps in one way or another I would find myself drawn to creating through the written word. However as I entered into adulthood the financial benefit of becoming a writer wasn't at the forefront of my mind. When I first started college I had no clue what my major should even be. I knew I liked to write and be creative, I distinctly recall my father telling me "you should major in journalism". My thought however was a news reporter seeking out some boring or depressing story. Nothing brought me lower as a kid as the news, so the thought of entering that arena did nothing for me. I loved working with computers and I figured computer programmers make money (which they do) so I figured that was the job for me.

What no one tells you is how tedious and at times boring being a computer programmer can be. I was struggling mighty in a Unix class and this was just the bare basics. So I figure change my major someday I'd like to run my own business, so you know let me take business marketing and management that's perfect for me. It was during that time I entered the workforce starting at TCIM services a telemarketing company. For a kid that was used to minimum wage from working at Wendy's this job seemed perfect. It paid well and all I really did was answer the phone and do a few steps here and there. I quickly learned how draining how just sitting there answering the phone can actually be. From there I went into banking working for JPMorgan Chase in their collections department. This was well before every single person had caller ID so the possibility of actually getting someone to answer the phone and speak to you existed. It was becoming quickly evident that the corporate culture wasn't not the best environment  for me.

I also was lacking in my dedication to my school work, fell behind and eventually stopped all together simply working moving from one office job to another. It was reading an article from one of my favorite magazines that I realized the person that wrote this article was a journalist! This wasn't some boring news story this was a thought out creative piece of art. I had fun reading I learned something about a subject I was interested to and the writing was top notch. Why didn't I pursue this. Unfortunately I had felt like the time for me to being a writer or journalist had passed I was just trying to make a living. I was enjoying the job I had as a customer service rep for a chemical company, I enjoyed my co-workers and the pay was good. Then the economic crisis of 2008 hit and for the next 6 years I was moving from one temp job to the next primarily working in an office doing customer service.

We've now have reached 2014 and I take on another new temporary assignment as a claims processor for a company that deals with unclaimed property. A field I didn't even know existed, the pay was great the hours were flexible and to my joy I was actually hired as a permanent employee in May of 2015. For the first time since 2008 I was going to be getting benefits if I took a vacation day I actually would get paid for it. But like the vast majority of the office jobs I've had prior the job itself began to wear on me. The chance for growth with in the company was stagnant the manager I worked for a buffoon with a God complex the worst combination possible. Yet I had fell into this complacency that kept me from doing anything about it. Sometimes you have to be shaken to even move, so in September of 2018 the quake came.

After dealing with the death in my family, and health concerns for my wife I was let go. The initial response was definitely anger, than shock, but next came a strong sense of peace and joy. Happiness in the fact that there were definite elements to this job that I would no longer have to deal with, people who treated me poorly I wouldn't have to converse with and the chance to finally do what I was meant to do. For years and years I ignored my calling to be a writer, so as I sit today and write this I said no more. It was time to invest in myself and believe in my own abilities and do my best to make writing as a career a reality. So marking the date in my calendar September 27, 2018 is the day my New Journey Begins.

Ye We Didn't Forget

William C. Walker Jr.
June 5, 2018

So last week Kanye West dropped his latest the 7 track album titled Ye.  I've seen the responses from some that have reviewed the album.  Claims of it's back to the soulful Ye the more mature Ye the combination of Graduation and Yeezus Ye.  Now very quick disclaimer I haven't listened to it, don't plan on listening to it.  That's not what this post is about at this point I couldn't care less about the quality of this album.  The reason is because I'm never going to forget the events that transpired leading up to this album.  That being when Kanye West proclaimed his love for Donald Trump which was promptly followed up by his insane take that "slavery was a choice" .  Yeah he actually said that!  That's where it was over for me, and while others maybe able to dismiss his statements and actions as further evidence of his descent  into madness after the passing of his mother he doesn't get that pass from me.

I mean the majority of black people were quick to turn on artist like Chrisette Michelle and Mary Mary's Tina Campbell for performing during Trump's low attended inauguration.  They're still feeling the consequence of their choices, so how is this dude supposed to get a pass? If he was a woman would he get that pass?  As poor as this country is in it's race relations it's almost equally as poor in it's treatment of women.  Kanye had tried to justify his actions by stating he wanted to take the "Make America Great Again" message and add empathy to it.  Feeling like why can't you try to get along with a man in power to try and come together as opposed to constantly warring with someone.  That'd be valid if you weren't dealing with a man that IS SO BLATANTLY RACIST.  It's almost comical that the same guy that went out of his way to state George Bush doesn't care about black people, would feel such a kinship with someone that can't even denounce the KKK as being racist.

My issue with Kanye is that he always was a self proclaimed his genius.  In the musical area I could almost give him that.  But he also reminds me of the self proclaimed WOKE brother that swears he knows more about an issue than you, when in reality he's talking out his butt, with zero knowledge of the actual issue.  I could even understand to some extent the point he was trying to make where people have to make their own decisions.  Don't be caught up in the mob mentality be your own person.  Those are commendable ideals, I think in this social media age and this desire for likes and clicks it's easy to lose self.  I recently saw and interview by Charlamagne tha God where he stated how he feels like people use social media like a temperature gauge to see how they should feel about a subject rather than having independent thought.  Charlamagne made a good point on individualism, Kanye dismissed over 400 years of abuse and torture as a choice.  That's an idea that's beyond insane, as the TMZ staffer pointed out at the moment of the comment it's irresponsible for someone in Kanye's position.  I can't deny that I enjoyed Kanye's work Late Registration, Graduation, and My Dark and Twisted Fantasy were instant classics.  But I can't let that make me forget what this dude said, and neither should you.  Do yourself a favor and cop Black Thought's album instead, that's a truly conscious brother who's talent matches his ideals. Ye could continue to make good music and hope that his talent would overshadow his insanity and maybe people would forget.  Sorry Ye most of us will remember those are statement and actions that we can't and shouldn't forget.

People Don't Understand The First Amendment

William C. Walker Jr.
May 31st, 2018

Debate over the first amendment is brought back to the forefront this week after a pair of divisive statements from two female comedians. The first was a racist tweet from Roseanne Barr where she compared a former Obama administration advisor Valerie Jarrett to an ape.  The result Barr's very popular rebooted show Roseanne was cancelled by ABC. It's a decision that most applauded ABC for it's swift and decisive action in the face of an act that was blatantly racist.  The second act this week was from Samantha Bee while on her show Full Frontal on TBS. Ms. Bee during a segment criticizing the Trump administration immigration policy called Trump's daughter and advisor a "feckless c***".  If you can't figure out the starred out letters the word starts with a C and rhymes with bunt.  Yikes! Needless to say the act did not sit well with the White House or many right-wing conservatives. Well they wasted no time in comparing Bee's actions to Barr's and screamed hypocrisy for TBS not following a similar course that ABC chose.

Now I'm not going to spend a great deal of time on the differences between the two comments, other than there's a clear difference between vulgarity and racism.  Barr's comments were very clearly racist comparing a black person to an ape has been used by racist from the moment blacks stepped foot in this country.  Bee's comments while vulgar it wasn't racist, in fact one could say it's similar to a vulgar statement Trump made while on an Access Hollywood bus.  This is about those that choose to try and defend both under the statement "It's the First Amendment they can say what they want".  It's clear to me that a lot of people don't seem to understand the First Amendment.  Mainly that people seem to think that The First Amendment protects those who exercise it from zero consequence.  While the First Amendment does indeed protect those from persecution from the government it doesn't mean that there's no consequence from that person's actions.  For example Roseanne had every right to be an bigot and spew her hateful speech, and her employer ABC had ever right to terminate her employment due to her actions.  Just like Samantha Bee can call Ivanka Trump whatever she wants, but she also has to deal with the consequence of her losing sponsors over it.

The First Amendment remains extremely important especially during a time period in this country when those who are in power are openly at war with the press. I just hate when those try to use the First Amendment as some kind of defense for a bigot like Roseanne Barr.  Players in the NFL that are exercising this right to protest police brutality for example is one that exemplifies true patriotism, which is why it was put in the constitution in the first place.  Even in the face of the consequence of the NFL threatening them fines for doing so,  The right to say what you want  will always remain in this country, you'd like to see people use it in very positive and productive ways, like these NFL players, and like those that protested against racism during the Civil Rights movement.  I don't want it to continued to be used as an active shield for those that like to spew hatred and venom, though I want those that choose to do so to understand by all means you have to right, but you also have the right to suffer the consequence.

Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself

William C. Walker Jr.
May 31, 2018

So just under 3 years ago I made my attempt to enter the vast ecosystem of internet media by writing my own blog.  The last post was September 14, 2015, the subject a Dallas Cowboys game, a topic which for those who know me would say was an obvious choice.  My attempt under the blog titled Dialectic Ramblings a title I chose because my original idea for a title Coherent Ramblings was taken.  A title that I felt best suited me, especially when it came to debating or discussing various topics.  Again to those that know me my wife in particular would take note of how I would go on these very thorough and energetic rants regardless the subject.  My thought hey these are ramblings but ramblings that make sense, "COHERENT RAMBLINGS" perfection.  Yet as I've mentioned the blog title was taken so a new title was required.  What could it be?  Well from my point of view I wanted to keep to this theme of the oxymoron of Coherent Ramblings how bout logical.  Logical Ramblings however didn't have enough my punch, and very much like my style when writing poetry I wanted something more unique with a sound of something grandiose, something that makes a person run to the dictionary.  So I looked up the definition of logical and one of the synonyms that stuck out was the word "dialectic". So of course I had to know what it meant, the definition states:

Noun- the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions,
           inquiry into metaphysical contradictions and their solutions

MIND BLOWN! It's perfect where had this obscure word been hiding, of course it captured the essence of what I wanted to say.  So what happened?  I started my blog and remembered at the time writing a few political post, commenting on highlights of the latest Game of Thrones episode, and my personal favorite constructing a March Madness style tournament for all of the superhero movies that had been out to date.  The winner of said tournament chosen by poll in the end Captain America: The Winter Soldier came out on top beating The Avengers.  Point is consistency wasn't the best from trying to find a permanent job to trying to plan a wedding and a whole host of other distractions the blog itself died.  So why am I trying this again?  Well because even though it wasn't as consistent as I would've liked I enjoyed it when I did.  I love writing and doing things that utilize my creativity, and while this is just a reboot of sorts I'm hoping you enjoy it as much as I do.  So in this new version of my blog I decided to take the advice of my queen. Who said to me regardless of the subject I seem to go from zero to one hundred!  Whether we're watching Family Feud and I can't believe the dumb answer this person gave, to how much I want Jason Garrett fired as the head coach of the Cowboys, to my opinion on how there's varying degrees in the #metoo movement that all get swept up under one umbrella.  Point is I'm passionate about the things I discuss and I hope people will have find it fun and entertaining, and most importantly thought provoking.  So in my Jay-Z voice ALLOW ME TO REINTRODUCE MYSELF my name is William C. Walker Jr. (LOL) and I hope you enjoy my blog.